As expected bad fire season is here

[cruitr]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

Holy crap.

How much do these fires affect daily life in San Diego? Is it a like a huge concern?

Here's what Scripps Ranch (about 15 miles inland from the coast) looked like in October of 2003:

Scripps Ranch Fire

These fires don't happen every year but it is hard to get homeowners insurance if you live near a wooded area.

[Slytrix]

Originally Posted by cruitr

Here's what Scripps Ranch (about 15 miles inland from the coast) looked like in October of 2003:

Scripps Ranch Fire

These fires don't happen every year but it is hard to get homeowners insurance if you live near a wooded area.

Haha chasing people away

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Big one down by Ensenada. I could see the smoke from home.

[cruitr]

Originally Posted by Slytrix

Haha chasing people away

If I can get them to sell cheap, I might get another rental property.

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Well, first of all, there are currently no fires, and fires are very infrequent, so it's more the Santa Ana Winds that make us nervous.

As far as affecting 'daily life,' the Santa Ana winds only occur about five percent of the time, and almost always in mid- to late fall, so it's not so much a constant worry as a seasonal or sporadic one.

The really bad timing of Santa Ana winds is that they tend to occur at the very tail end of the dry season, when all the vegetation is exceptionally dry from months of (typical) drought. Once we get the first really good, drenching rainfall of the winter rainy season, the fire season is pretty much over quickly. Unfortunately, this year is shaping up to be rather warmer and drier than usual, and there is little promise of rain on the horizon for anywhere in the state.

It depends where you live. If you're more inland, in places like Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County, those Santa Ana winds will come more often. I've seen Santa Ana winds in RSM in every month from September to April. In a typical year, I would say the Santa Ana winds over in RSM occur 25% of the time during late Fall and early winter. Then you have heavy rains another 25% of the time.

If it's a drought year, you'll get more Santa Ana winds (40% of the time) and less rains.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by MrJester

It depends where you live. If you're more inland, in places like Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County, those Santa Ana winds will come more often. I've seen Santa Ana winds in RSM in every month from September to April. In a typical year, I would say the Santa Ana winds over in RSM occur 25% of the time during late Fall and early winter. Then you have heavy rains another 25% of the time.

If it's a drought year, you'll get more Santa Ana winds (40% of the time) and less rains.

Yeah, no. This is a huge exaggeration. I've lived in Rancho Santa Margarita for over 20 years and there is no way we have ever had Santa Ana winds blowing for 40% of the fall/winter. Last year there was almost no dry wind. This month there were about 4 days with fairly strong wind (today is the strongest). Even when Ventura and and northern LA County have had severe winds recently, we've had only gentle breezes or nothing.

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by saibot

Yeah, no. This is a huge exaggeration. I've lived in Rancho Santa Margarita for over 20 years and there is no way we have ever had Santa Ana winds blowing for 40% of the fall/winter. Last year there was almost no dry wind. This month there were about 4 days with fairly strong wind (today is the strongest). Even when Ventura and and northern LA County have had severe winds recently, we've had only gentle breezes or nothing.

These past couple years, there seem to have been less Santa Ana winds than usual in Orange County. Admittedly, I lived in the higher elevations of Robinson Ranch, where the canyons seem to funnel and strengthen the winds. Seems like lower elevations in RSM have weaker winds.

Also, October isn't even peak season for Santa Ana winds. Santa Anas are most common during December or so.